Reading Time: 2 minutes Thank you for all you do LT8C readers and supporters! This is the anniversary of three successful months. And, I have made some site changes and updates just for you. Thank you for your feedback.
Reading Time: 2 minutes In one of the first workshops I attended, while watching me do the basic eight count my instructor asked me “what is with all the hip movement?” I said I used to do salsa so that is probably why I do that. She said, “Kill that! This is steppin’ not salsa.” Early on I struggled with doing too much too early and being over eager to make a different statement than what people wanted to see. Even now, six years later, I still feel I struggle with treading a thin line to make the dance my own. If you can relate, this article may be for you as well. It was refreshing to hear the point of view of someone who changed the game in Chicago Style Steppin’ regardless of what anyone else said or told him to do – Andre Blackwell.
Reading Time: 4 minutes In one of the first workshops I attended, while watching me do the basic eight count my instructor asked me “what is with all the hip movement?” I said I used to do salsa so that is probably why I do that. She said, “Kill that! This is steppin’ not salsa.” Early on I struggled with doing too much too early and being over eager to make a different statement than what people wanted to see. Even now, six years later, I still feel I struggle with treading a thin line to make the dance my own. If you can relate, this article may be for you as well. It was refreshing to hear the point of view of someone who changed the game in Chicago Style Steppin’ regardless of what anyone else said or told him to do – Andre Blackwell.
Reading Time: 3 minutes In one of the first workshops I attended, while watching me do the basic eight count my instructor asked me “what is with all the hip movement?” I said I used to do salsa so that is probably why I do that. She said, “Kill that! This is steppin’ not salsa.” Early on I struggled with doing too much too early and being over eager to make a different statement than what people wanted to see. Even now, six years later, I still feel I struggle with treading a thin line to make the dance my own. If you can relate, this article may be for you as well. It was refreshing to hear the point of view of someone who changed the game in Chicago Style Steppin’ regardless of what anyone else said or told him to do – Andre Blackwell.
Reading Time: 7 minutes It is that time of year when some people take stock of the new year ahead and what they plan to do. Are you ready for a contest? The WLSC season has passed and you saw who was on stage and how they performed in 2016. Did the performances inspire you to get ready to be on stage next year or….? Well, it takes work to get to that stage and leave a lasting memory. Read about Virginia’s own, Henry Williams, and his journey to the WLSC 2016 stage.
Reading Time: < 1 minute [table id=33 /] 12/3 Red and Black Affair Saturday Roof Top Dinner. Fort Lauderdale, Florida 12/24 The Season Finale. The Gold Code, Sarah’s 13th Anniversary. Atlanta, Georgia 12/30 Pre-New Year’s Eve and Capricorn Explosion. Decatur, Georgia
Reading Time: 3 minutes This week the nation seemed perplexed and silent even at the outlook of the next 4 years ahead of the United States, but when I remove myself from the grand scheme of things and take it back to my neck of the woods, I am exhilarated at the promise and potential for positive changes and progress in the year ahead in my local stepping community.
Reading Time: 2 minutes The leader is critical in this dance and gentlemen, the lead starts even before the “seven-eight.” Women love steppin’ and start and stay in this community for different reasons but for me, the social traditions of this dance were like glue and contributed greatly to my enjoyment and dedicating a lot of my time to steppin’ Chicago style. Men treat the ladies so differently on the dance floor and in a good way.
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chaundra “Shooz” Satchell is from Chicago and now lives in Hampton, Virginia. Although she grew up between Gary and Chicago surrounded by Chicago Style Steppin’, she learned to step right here in Virginia at Langley Air Force Base with Timothy Wilson. But, her steppin’ granddad is LC Henderson. Chaundra has been steppin’ for almost ten years, instructing for about six years and she is the President of Virginia Steppers Education Fund. She is known as a very direct instructor but I can feel her passion for the dance so charge her Debbie Allen persona in class to her heart not her head. You can tell by her actions and history in the community that she wants this dance to flourish for years to come, but earnestly believes this dance won’t flourish without the young people – especially the men. Chaundra admits she would compete at the World’s Largest Stepper Contest one day but she cannot find a partner locally. So, her question is, “Men, what is the magic to keep you in this dance? Help a sister out!”
Reading Time: 3 minutes When you turn on the regular radio station, most times you don’t hear a steady flow of music you can step to. So, where can you find music to dance to any time of day? If you haven’t heard about it until now, log on to OhSoSmoothRadio.com the online radio destination owned by Mykel “DJ Shorty Smooth” Farr based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I checked in with Mykel to find out more about his “virtual steppers set.”
Reading Time: < 1 minute In years past, there were not too many steppers events in the latter part of the year. I would close out the year with the Christmas Colors Ball but I have not heard anything about it happening in 2016. October, November, December and January are my months to save some money for next year’s events. Not so much anymore. There is much more going on that I know about right through the end of the year and I plan to be a part of some of it.
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the faster growing stepper communities in the southern region is North Carolina. When I visit Durham, Greenville or Charlotte – I see new faces on the dance floor each time – both men and women. The North Carolina steppers cultivate and attract staying community interest and put conscious efforts ini some interesting ways to engage steppers, love each other and motivate new steppers to stay. This is the fifth year for the North Carolina People’s Choice Awards and groups unite to make this the grand affair it is meant to be.
Reading Time: 2 minutes In your first Chicago style steppin’ class you should probably heard the phrase “stay in your lane.” It is one of the primary codes in this dance. Men, you lead and keep me in our lane so I count on you to be my eyes in all directions on the dance floor. This is where my third etiquette comes in – Please “Have My Back.”
Reading Time: < 1 minute NEW!! My personal wish list of steppers events. This is a “wish” list and I can only hope to make it to most of these events barring no conflicts. There are obvious conflicting dates so I have to make some choices. Get out and support these events if you can. I hope to see you on the dance floor at one of these destinations soon.
Reading Time: 4 minutes When an LT8C reader reached out and asked me to offer some advice on “choosing the right shoes to step in” I sought advice from a pro – Tneshela Jones in Texas, owner of A Steppers Sole. It is important in this journey to take care of your feet and be stylish too. Tneshela’s gives her professional advice on how you can step, love your feet and be comfortable. And, if you want to make a personal shoe statement, you can do that too.
Reading Time: 3 minutes I may roll up like a boss on the dance floor but that’s because if I dance with a gentleman I want him to know, “I am ready for whatever you want to try.” Who goin’ check me and give me something I don’t know? This year when I danced with Maurice “Reese” Thomas for the first time at Stepaganza in St. Louis … it was check, check and check.
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reggie Handy is from Waukegan, Illinois and now lives in Edgewood, Maryland. He grew up skating and watching his aunts and uncles bop. He was caught up in the street life and hip-hop scene, and when his nieces and nephews were old enough to show up at the same clubs he thought he’d better find something else to do and somewhere else to go. Reggie made it to his first class in steppin’ in 2006 to officially learn about an eight count, and here he is ten almost eleven years later.
Reading Time: 3 minutes When someone that really owns his OCD tendencies proudly, LC Henderson, and an analyst, me, get together to talk about Chicago Style Steppin’, there can be magic and revelation in the numbers. Well, it was for me when I had a chance to sit with LC in Atlanta, pick at his brain and open my mind to a new way to look at the building blocks of this dance. If you are inquisitive about the logic behind the 8 count, LC is the one with the answers. I had to share this experience because it has helped me immensely to understand what it will take for me to graduate myself from a beginner to an intermediate stepper.